City water-bill probe will be led by 'independent' department head

LOWELL -- The reasons residents are being hit with higher-than expected water bills will be investigated by an "independent" department head and not the leader of the Lowell Regional Water Utility.

City Manager Kevin Murphy has appointed Wastewater Utility Executive Director Mark Young to investigate, after initially asking Water Utility Executive Director Daniel Lahiff for a report, sources confirmed to The Sun.

"After further review and reflection I have decided to appoint an independent Department Head to investigate and report to me the cause of the exorbitant water bills, how to address them and how to prevent this from occurring in the future," Murphy wrote in a Wednesday email to city councilors. "I have requested an expedited review so I can report to all of you ASAP."

Residents have complained that they received a bill from an "actual" meter reading after years of estimates. In some cases, residents have been billed thousands of dollars because of prior underestimates.

Lahiff was the subject of heavy criticism from city councilors Tuesday night about his handling of the billing issues, as well as earlier issues in the Water Utility.

"What bothers me the most is that the person in charge, the department head, bears no responsibility, throws his employees under the bus by blaming others, and goes untarnished," City Councilor Rita Mercier said Tuesday night.